Fullers GreatSights Bay of Islands Day Tours
Fullers GreatSights Bay of Islands Day Tours
Fullers GreatSights Bay of Islands Day Tours
4.5
Swim with DolphinsBoat ToursDolphin & Whale WatchingDay Trips
7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Full view
About
Fullers GreatSights Bay of Islands offers Northland’s most comprehensive range cruises and tours. The Fullers name has been synonymous with cruises in the Bay of Islands since 1886. Today the passionate and knowledgeable local team are proud to showcase the wonders of the region including cruises to the famous “Hole in the Rock”, dolphin watching and Island Adventure cruises plus day tours to the Hokianga, Kerikeri, Russell and Cape Reinga via 90 Mile Beach.
Paihia, New Zealand
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2023
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingRevenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Similar Experiences
Fullers GreatSights Bay of Islands Day Tours
Booking unavailable on Tripadvisor
Want other options you can book now?
Show optionsTravellers talk about
(174 reviews)
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.5
2,010 reviews
Excellent
1,441
Very good
390
Average
95
Poor
41
Terrible
43
Paul A
4 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
Stunning day trip taking in the Bay of Islands with the Hole in The Rock, Otehei Bay and many other islands. Sighted dolphins and flying fish
Skipper Kate was a charming and very funny host in addition to showing of her skills to get us through the hole in choppy water was incredible
Skipper Kate was a charming and very funny host in addition to showing of her skills to get us through the hole in choppy water was incredible
Written 14 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cam096
Auckland4 contributions
Mar 2024 • Solo
Fabulous tour, great commentary and stunning views. Get to see many islands, Inc' stopping at one, plus the hole in the rock. Heartedly recommend.
Written 13 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Climber43423497015
4 contributions
Feb 2024 • Family
We have spent a week here in the Bay of Islands. We’ve been on multiple guides and tours, with other competitor companies and we have had the most remarkable time. The service we have received has been absolutely second to none….. until, we jumped aboard Fuller Great Sites ferry to Otehei Bay today. Wow, what a difference in the culture and overall service from the staff. Their staff have bad attitudes, and come across very pushy and rude. When we docked at Otehei Bay wharf to get off the ferry, my partner and I realized how beautiful the view was from the rear of the boat. We patiently waited for all passengers to pass us, so we could get off last and take a quick photo of the view (we are talking approximately 3 seconds to get the photo) and people before us were still vacating anyway. We were abruptly told by the man who loudly said “Hurry up, there are at least 100 people waiting to get on this boat”. As I said, not all passengers were yet off the boat before us anyway, so we were not holding anyone up. His rudeness was not necessary. I told him that we have paid alot of money to be on this boat (over $280 for our family to be exact) and if I want to get a quick photo, I’ll get a photo. We don’t come everyday, and it’s our first experience here, your staff should be better at making people feel welcome. They are in hospitality and tourism, it’s literally their job. It is our first time travelling with your company, and it was a bad experience purely because of the treatment by your staff. Also the female staff members who proceeded to “laugh out loud” at me in front of other passengers, after me telling them I don’t come here everyday and wanted a photo. We previously used the company called Island Getaways for the last few days, and I must say that their service was brilliant! The staff walked around and chatted to the passengers, really got to know us (some of them on first name basis) and made us feel welcome and at home, they allowed us to take photographs. Etc as much as we wanted despite being also full with passengers. They were always super friendly. We highly recommend them if you are looking for a perfect day, full of laughs and perfect hospitality. For such a large company, Fuller Great Sights, it would be expected that you would be far better dealing with tourists than what you were with us today. We are actually Kiwis experiencing tourism in our own country, and your customer service was rude.
Written 10 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kia ora,
Thank you for your post. Unfortunately Fullers GreatSights and GreatSights are not the same company even with a similar name. Could you please remove the review from this listing.
Kind regards,
Anna and the team at GreatSights
Written 18 March 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
John G
Saint Georges-super-Ely, UK78 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
The captain’s enthusiasm on our 8.30 cruise was contagious. Commentary was informative and amusing, we got to go through the hole in the rock (not guaranteed!), and even though we were behind schedule he stopped for 10 minutes when some dolphins turned up.
The crew couldn’t have tried harder to make it a good day out
The crew couldn’t have tried harder to make it a good day out
Written 8 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AvanteAlways
Australia48 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
I booked this tour to the hole in the rock as it says in their brochure you could swim and snorkel. I was told by the booking agent that all the tours were the same. There was another company that did snorkelling and mentioned they supplied the gear. However with this company there was no snorkelling, and when I questioned it with one of the staff when we arrived on the island, I was told that they didn’t do snorkelling tours.
Also at the island stop , for lunch, you could only go and sit at the tables , under the shade ,if you were buying at the expensive cafe, and there was a large sign stating you could not bring your own food to that area, so we were left to find somewhere to sit on the ground.
They should take the snorkelling out of the brochure , since the staff say they don’t do it.
Also at the island stop , for lunch, you could only go and sit at the tables , under the shade ,if you were buying at the expensive cafe, and there was a large sign stating you could not bring your own food to that area, so we were left to find somewhere to sit on the ground.
They should take the snorkelling out of the brochure , since the staff say they don’t do it.
Written 2 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kia ora,
Thank you for your post. Unfortunately Fullers GreatSights and GreatSights are not the same company even with a similar name. Could you please remove the review from this listing.
Kind regards,
Anna and the team at GreatSights
Written 18 March 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Chris F
Cheshunt, UK224 contributions
Feb 2024 • Couples
Outstanding half day cruise. Highlight of the holiday and memories that will last forever. The crew of Marty Debbie and Don were professional, knowledgable and friendly.
Written 23 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tracy E
2 contributions
Feb 2024 • Family
We were picked up at 7.15am and the tour lasted 11 hours. But those hours were fun, Informative and thoroughly enjoyable. Our guide William Henley went above and beyond to make this tour absolutely memorable for all those lucky enough to have attended. From the delightful morning tea stop in Mangonui Harbour, the awesomeness that is Cape Reinga and the light house to sand boarding and us making a human pyramid in front of our bus. Willy said we were his bus whānau and that's exactly what he created within an hour of us boarding the coach.
I cannot recommend this tour enough - even if you have been to Cape Reinga before, I would say book up and go again because I bet you will have an absolute blast - just like the 30 passengers who spent 11 fantastic hours in the company of William Henley on the Great Sights Fullers Tour.
I cannot recommend this tour enough - even if you have been to Cape Reinga before, I would say book up and go again because I bet you will have an absolute blast - just like the 30 passengers who spent 11 fantastic hours in the company of William Henley on the Great Sights Fullers Tour.
Written 11 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Carla
22 contributions
Dec 2023 • Couples
Really enjoyable day in the Bay of Islands on the full day cream tour. The captain was very informative and gave us a great opportunity to see the wildlife in the area. Beautiful views of Cape Brett also.
Written 3 February 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter A
Bournemouth, UK28 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
We took the Fullers GreatSights one day coach tour from Paihia to 90 mile beach and Cape Reinga. It is a long day (11 hours) but there were plenty of breaks and it is really worthwhile. The scale of 90 mile beach is breathtaking, not just the size of the beach itself but the breakers which appear to almost go to the horizon. The bus was driven a good way along the beach before we stopped for sand boarding on the dunes and a paddle in the Tasman Sea. Later we drove to Cape Reinga and again there were some superb sights notably the meeting of the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean. According to Maori mythology the spirits of the dead leap off the headland on their journey to the afterlife and there was certainly something very spiritual about the whole site.
We were very fortunate to have Tahi Tate as our excellent driver. He is a proud Maori and brought the entire trip to life with anecdotes and tales particularly about his people. This really was a superb day and one of the highlights of our tour of New Zealand.
We were very fortunate to have Tahi Tate as our excellent driver. He is a proud Maori and brought the entire trip to life with anecdotes and tales particularly about his people. This really was a superb day and one of the highlights of our tour of New Zealand.
Written 29 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Xante
Sheffield, UK1,121 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
Great trip, amazing skipper, fantastic weather. We had a really great time with a very competent and knowledgeable skipper.
We can thoroughly recommend this trip.
We can thoroughly recommend this trip.
Written 20 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Soni B
New Delhi, India
Can you tell me which trip should I book as I want a half-day cruise which sails through the hole in the Rock, swim with the dolphins and has stopover at otehei bay too .
Thanks.
Written 20 October 2017
Kia ora Soni, sadly we no longer stop at Otehei Bay, our new four hour Hole in the Rock cruise stops at a secluded island that we'll pick on the day of your cruise. I'm sorry we don't offer swimming with dolphins on this cruise.
Written 29 October 2017
Why is your service so poor? Booked the Kerikeri 3 hour tour and reconfirmed in person at your office in Paihia two days before. No warning that it might be cancelled as would have gone on another day or chosen something else. Arrived for the tour, told to wait outside and when no sign of the minibus went inside to be told it was cancelled! Afternoon of my last day so no opportunity to do anything else I wanted. Asked about a refund but told that I had to organise it myself as I had not booked the tour direct! Was told that they had tried to ring the motel the evening before but no one spoke to me nor told the owner about the cancellation. No one seemed to care or be interested.
Written 26 January 2017
Kia ora Isobel, I'd like to sincerely apologise for the inconvenience you experienced today. Your tour was cancelled yesterday afternoon and our team did make more than one attempt to contact you about this at that time.
Unfortunately it appears that the message did not get through. The staff member who directed you to wait outside for your tour today was unaware of the cancellation and I appreciate the frustration this must have caused.
When the mistake was realised you were offered the chance to experience any of our other afternoon cruises or tours free of charge, but chose not to do so.
It sounds like you may have misheard our team when they spoke to you about the refund process. Because you booked through Viator, your refund needs to be processed by them. We have of course notified Viator - what our staff member told you was that it can sometimes speed things up if the customer also contacts them, not that it was up to you to organise.
Once again, I do apologise for the miscommunication around your tour booking and I hope you enjoy the rest of your time in New Zealand.
Best regards,
Amy and the team at Fullers GreatSights
Written 26 January 2017
Concerned if company cancels due to weather or other reason.
NO refund just alternative date.
This is unacceptable, as of no value when travelling from overseas with travel dates prebooked.
Written 11 September 2016
It's a big boat that can take a lot of bad weather. That's why they run all year while the other tour companies close down for winter.
It was a wet and windy day when we went out, but you really didn't notice it on such a large cat. Only downside was that it was too rough to go through the hole in the rock.
I don't think you've too much to worry about.
Written 12 September 2016
Hi, With the Dolphin eco experience is it better to do the 8am one or the 12.30pm one? Does one have a better chance of being able to swim with dolphins etc?
Written 19 December 2015
Hi Carlie, you'll have the same chance of swimming with dolphins on either cruise. Morning and afternoon cruises are both around four hours long. Swimming with dolphins is subject to the Department of Conservation's regulations, so as other members have mentioned, if we find a pod with calves you won't be able to swim with them (although it's amazing to see a baby dolphin up close from our low viewing decks!)
Written 21 December 2015
Wondering about the cycling tour. How is the terrain? Is it an easy ride, or are there hills? Looks like a great tour, but wondered if anyone has done this and how they liked it?
Written 1 October 2015
Hello Judy,
Thank you for your enquiry.
The cycle tour from Kaikohe to Okaihau follows a beautiful trail over good terrain with no steep gradients. There are some points with a gentle incline. There are a range of options for you to book, either from Paihia including return transport or from the base in Kaikohe if you have your own transport.
I hope this answers your question.
Warm regards,
Rachel and the team at Fullers GreatSights.
Written 5 October 2015
We recently received a notice from Celebrity Cruises that we would be arriving later to Bay of Islands on Monday January 18, 2016. Original arrival was 7AM, but now it is scheduled for 8:30AM, and this is a tender port, so we would have to wait our turn for the tender. Cruise ship still leaving at 6PM. Would like to take the Hole In the Rock cruise, but unsure about getting there on time for the day trip with the new arrival time. Any advice; I would assume tour operators would make accommodations to the cruise ship schedule, but............. Please advise. thank you
Written 24 September 2015
P716VRrachelb
Paihia, New Zealand
Hi there,
Thank you for your enquiry.
We have cruises to the hole in the rock that depart at 09.00 and 13.30, both for 4 hours duration in the summer months and with a boarding time 15 minutes before departure.
The ship will usually tender into Waitangi, where our town has complimentary shuttle busses to transport cruise ship passengers from the wharf and into Paihia town. The shuttle bus will drop you off outside the maritime building, where our office is located and 30 meters from where your tour will depart from.
We ask that passengers pre-booked with us please try to arrange to be on one of the first tenders off the ship so that you make it on time for the tour, as it can take a little time to disembark. I would say that an 08.30 arrival would not give you enough time for the morning cruise, but should be fine for the afternoon departure. You would need to double check with the ship what the last boarding time is.
I would like to let you know that, in line with our terms and conditions, we are more than happy to re-arrange travel to a different date or time but we are unable to refund you if you miss the cruise.
We look forward to welcoming you to the Bay of Islands.
Rachel and the team at Fullers GreatSights
Written 26 September 2015
Trip to the hole in the rock. Cost please
Written 12 February 2015
Hello Patirica, the cruise to the hole in the rock is $102. Thank you, Rachel.
Written 14 February 2015
amrcaughey
Auckland, New Zealand
I was told the new Heritage tour is very popular. How often does that run? How long does it last? How much does it cost?
Angela Caughey
Written 12 February 2015
Hi Angela,
The Heritage tour runs most days, but is dependant on the tides in the kerikeri inlet. To check availability you're best calling us on 0800 653 339. The tour costs $89 per person, and this includes entry into the Stone store and wine tasting!
Warm regards,
Rachel
Written 12 February 2015
How wet do you get, it says to bring a change of clothes???
Written 25 December 2014
Hello Lesley G,
It would depend on which trip you would like to do? If possible could you please email us on reservations @ dolphincruises . co . nz and we can answer any questions you have.
Warm regards,
Rachel.
Written 26 December 2014
Showing results 1-10 of 10